By Rob Bates, News Director

Posted on October 3, 2014

Oct. 3 was a tough day for metal prices: Gold sank below $1,200, and platinum plummeted to a five-year low.

Gold’s drop below the $1,200 barrier is the latest dip in a roller-coaster year for the yellow metal: It started the year over $1,200 and seemed to be approaching the $1,400 mark in March. But at press time, its spot price was $1,192 an ounce, meaning it is now down for the year.